EFCC declares Omisore wanted over N700m arms cash deal

Leading figure in the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has run into a deeper problem with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the N700 million which the former Deputy Governor reportedly received from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. *Omisore *Omisore Omisore, according to EFCC, which has now been declared wanted, has been unable to explain why he got the money from the NSA, who is also standing trial for breach of public office and money laundering in three separate courts of law in Abuja. EFCC claimed in a statement made available to Vanguard on Tuesday that Omisore had been evading the commission after being served with a formal invitation to appear for questioning on what he knew about the money.

The Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who signed statement, said the commission had no other option than declaring Omisire wanted so as to be able to bring him to account for the public fund. The statement said in part: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today declared a former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore wanted. ”The former Senator is wanted in connection with a case of receiving and misappropriating the sum of over N700 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, between June and November, 2014.

“Omisore has been elusive and refused to report to the commission after invitation was extended to him on April 7, 2016 requesting him “to come and make clarification on the ongoing investigation”. “Instead of responding to the commission’s investigation Omisore approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights. “Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf consequently ordered that Omisore should only be arrested through a due and legal process. The EFCC thereafter obtained a warrant to effect the arrest of the politician,” EFCC said.

Sources familiar with the case, said that Omisore’s name featured on a list of 241 contractors, who got contracts from the ONSA in 2014 but did not do any appreciable job to justify the huge sums collected by them. Omisore, whose firm reportedly got a security job for N442.6 million, allegedly received payment shortly after the money was paid to the company that secure the job.

He was said to be a director of the firm at the time of the payment was made to him. When he was first requested by the EFCC to report for interrogation, the former Senator, asked for a short time to report to the commission only for him to approach a court for the exercise of his fundamental rights, a development that irked the commission. The EFCC letter of invitation signed by Abubakar Madaki on behalf of the acting chairman of commission, reads: “The commission is investigating an alleged case in which your name featured prominently. “In view of the above, you are requested to interview the undersigned on Monday, April 11, 2016, at No.30, Harper Crescent, Wuse Zone 7, at 10 am.